Ladder construction



Nov. 10, 1942. SEABERG I 2,301,753

LADDER CONSTRUCTION Filed April 11, 1941 IT- 12 I 3 J5 Patented Nov. 10, 1942 UNITED STATES E ATENT OFFKIE 2,301,753

LADDER CONSTRUCTION Eric L. Seaberg, New York, N. Y. Application April 11, 1941, Serial No. 388,176

1 Claim.

This invention relates to folding ladders and means for forming a case and tool chest to enclose the latter, and has'for an object to present a novel construction wherein a step ladder may be folded for ready transportation manually, so that it may be carried readily upon railway cars, buses, and otherwise, in an inconspicuous form, and which will yet be highly effective in use.

A specific object of the invention is to present a novel joint and folding relation for the parts, and additional objects, advantages and features of invention will be seen to reside in the construction, arrangement and combination of parts involved in the embodiment of the invention, as will be understood from the following description and accompanying drawing, wherein,

Figure 1 is a front view of the ladder extended and ready for use.

Figure 2 is a side view thereof.

Figure 3 is a front view showing the ladder folded.

Figure 4 is an elevation of the easel or prop element of the ladder.

Figure 5 is a detail cross section of one of the steps.

Figure 6 is a bottom view of one of the steps, with portions broken away.

Figure '7 is an enlarged front elevation of one of the steps.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of the ladder and case.

Referring more particularly to the drawing,

there is illustrated a folding ladder which comprises a front ladder part proper l0, and a rear prop or easel portion 1 I, the top being connected together pivotally upon a metal flange bracket plate l2, which is secured to the underside of the top piece or plate l3 of the ladder. The easel or prop portion may be held in proper spaced relation to the ladder section proper I0, by means of usual spreaders l4, pivoted on the two sections and consisting of pivotally connected links of usual form. Two or more sets of these spreaders may be employed, as shown, to hold the prop sections in extended form, as will be explained.

The front section or ladder proper consists of two side stiles, formed in three parts of equal length, from end to end, pivotally, and may be formed of wood of appropriate cross sectional shape and dimension, the ladder having been made of wood one-half inch thick by one and three-quarters inches, in an eight-foot ladder; the stile sections have been made each two feet, eight inches long, approximately. The bracket plate I2 is formed of sheet metal and has a downturned flange [5. The upper stile section at each side is pivoted on this flange in a conventional way. The pivotal connection between the stile sections consists of a metal fitting l8, substantially U-shaped in cross section, so that the two butted ends of a stile may be inserted between the sides thereof, the fitting being secured fixedly upon one stile portion in each joint, while the other stile is hingedly connected to the first stile at the edge adjacent the open side of the fitting. The sides of the fitting adjacent the pivoted or hinged stile are apertured, so as to receive a locking pin 19, insertable therethrough when the stiles are in extended relation to hold the stiles in a fixedly extended relation. The pin is manually removable and 'reinsertable through the fittings after the pivoted stile has been moved into folded relation. These fittings are arranged with their open sides toward the front at the first or uppermost joint between the stile sections and at the next joint therebelow are arranged with open sides toward the rear, the stiles being correspond- .ingly hinged at the rear of these second ladder joints so as to fold downwardly, when the intermediate section is folded upwardly. In the present instance, there are shown but three sections with two joints of the kind described, although these may be increased in number to suit the length of ladder required and the degree of compactness to which it is desired to fold the same.

Between the stiles there are mounted steps 20, each step consisting of a stationary or fixed rung or step piece 2|, rigidly connected between the two stile sections by an angle plate [6, and a projecting wing or leaf 22, pivoted on the front edge of the stationary step piece, and arranged so as to fold upwardly, and inwardly and downwardly upon the stationary piece, at times, and when unfolded, to rest edge to edge with the stationary piece, forming therewith a continuous deep step.

Mounted in suitable guide means 23 for sliding movement transversely of the underside of the stationary step section or rung 2 I, there are bolt bars 23, adapted to be retracted to lie entirely under the rung 2|, or to be slidably projected forwardly so as to project under the leaf 22 when the ladder is folded downwardly in extended position. On the under side of each folding leaf 22, there is a strap piece 24 shaped so that the bolt 23 may be received between this strap and the underside of the leaf 22, so that the leaf will be held against loose movement when open, and the bolt engaged therewith. The bolt is manually retractible, to permit folding of the leaf 22 when required. By this means, a step of good and ample width is provided, making for increased safety when the appliance is in use, as will be readily understood. The sections of the easel or prop portion may be connected with lapped joint so that they may fold into closely parallel relation, each lower section outwardly of the upper end, and may be constructed with any usual strap or looking joint to hold them in extended position releasably, when necessary to fold the same. Cross ties or staves 25 may be connected between the respective legs of the prop as required, in addition to the spreaders which may be connected between the prop and ladder sections. Preferably, the spreaders are made detachable, either at their mutual joints, or at their connections at the ladder or prop, so that they may be disconnected when it is desired to fold the ladder.

In the use of this appliance, the ladder when extended and set up, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, affords a reasonably rigid structure, adequate to support the weight'of an adult workman in various situations. When it is desired to fold the ladder, the locking pins N are withdrawn, the bolts 23 are retracted, and after allof the leaves 22 are folded upwardly, inwardly and downwardly upon the stationary fixed step portions or rungs, and the spreaders I4 are broken at their hinge joints, the lower or second joint portions of the stiles are raised upwardly, so that the middle section of theladder swings upwardlyand inwardly in front of the top section of the ladder, so that its step portions at, the hinges of the leaves engage across the upper stile sections, in very close relation. The lowermost section of the ladder thus extends downwardly in front of the two other sections. The prop portions may be folded similarly, so that it lies close against the rear part of the top section of the laddenasrindicated in Figure 2. A case .26 is provided, open at one side, into which theladder may be moved slidably, while in folded condition, the lower portions of the folded parts being inserted first, and the top step portion then comes into position against the open side of the case so as to close the same, the top step being of sufficient width to compensate for the cant of the stiles transversely. Any usual fastening may be employed to hold the folded ladder in the case, as described, but in the present instance the case is illustrated as having a hinged lid 21 having a carrying handle 28 thereon, and suitable latch or lock fastenings 29 by whichthe cover may be secured in closed position on the case. The ends of this cover may engage downwardly over and around the upper end of the top step piece I3 at the side of thecase, so that when the lid is down, the ladder is held securely against removal from the case.

While specific details of the embodiment of the invention have been described with great particularity, it will be understood that various modifications of the construction, arrangement and combination :of parts, substitutions of materials and equivalents may be made within the scope of the invention, and without departing from the spirit thereof, as moreparticularly set forth in the appended claim.

I claim:

A ladder :of the character described comprising a ladder section and a prop section, each consisting ofa top section and a plurality of lower portions pivota-ll-y connected end to end, whereby they may fold into zig-zag relation, means to releasably connect ;the prop and ladder section in spread relation, 2. case constructed to enclose the folded parts and open at oneside, said ladder having a top stepportion constructed to fit said open part of the case when the folded parts are inserted in the case.

ERIC LAMBERT SEABERG. 

